Welcome to Week 1 of the 2021 Spring One Room Challenge 2021! During the scope of this project, we will be remodeling the Bramasole Due’s kitchen. Now the premise of this entire project revolves around remodeling for less than $3,000. What do you say? Is this even possible? Renovating your kitchen for less than $3,000 without demolishing anything. I don’t believe it! Start believing because it’s totally possible. And that is what we’re going to cover over the next eight weeks. Our kitchen is transforming using paint, textures, an Haute Bohemian color scheme, and a crapload of gorgeous finishing Touches.
I’m going to show you exactly how the design process works from concept to execution and everything in between. Any questions that you had about the popularity of virtual design will be answered during the next eight weeks. Follow along on our Instagram profile at KaSonndra Leigh Designs for behind-the-scene looks at the process. This week was all about finalizing the selections for our concept board. As a designer, I find it easy to help others transform their spaces without a hitch. However, when it comes to creating a design for my own space, the inspiration demon arrives on the scene and steals my muses gusto.
For this project that I’ve nicknamed the $2500k Jewel box kitchen, we will create a hot bohemian escape where wine will be on display, pots will be organized in some of the most beautiful ways, and cooking will become a luxury experience versus something do because I have to. Sounds fabulous, doesn’t it?
The design scheme we’re going for is dark and Moody. I’m talking about dark ceilings, walls, finishing Touches, cabinetry, open shelves… The works. I’ll be going bald my home with this design. Over the last 13 years, I’ve lived in a Mediterranean kitchen. While it was beautiful during its early days the thrill has worn off as well as this design Style. Time for a super sultry update. And what better way to do so than With The Ball Z notion of dark and Moody maximalist design in a kitchen. Can we pull it off?
Find out over the next seven weeks. Stay tuned for part two of our Spring 2021 One Room Challenge!
Make no mistake about it. Art makes or breaks any design scheme. The variation of styles provides a form of beauty and pleasure for anyone. An instant mood gets created when you add the right abstract painting or well-constructed canvas gallery to your walls. However, the choices available these days makes it easy to fall into the grips of overwhelm. I totally understand. No worries though.
In this article, we are going to explore several ways to choose wall art that suits your design style. There are several factors to consider when choosing art for the home or office. Many times, these factors interrelate so I thought it best to break these up into categories for the sake of simplicity.
#1 Composition and the Room
This is a great place to start. There are certain types of compositions that are best fitted to certain rooms. For example, when I think of the kitchen I think of fruits and vegetables, chefs, wine bottles, etc. For the bedroom, I consider images of passion, softness, and perhaps botanical, like a large rose picture. And the bathroom… well, what can I say about this most diverse area of the home? The style and overall tone of bathroom design changed throughout the years. So, it only makes sense that the choice of art would as well.
For bathrooms, I think of images that evoke a sense of cleanliness and water scenery. We create the perfect ambiance when the images we choose help the mood of the room. Gallery walls are the perfect idea and area to create a play on composition. When several pictures carry a common theme a very different feel is given to the room. The discussion of gallery walls continues in a bit. For now, let’s move on to one of my favorite subjects: color!
#2 Color
Where do we begin with our discussion of color in wall art? Let me count the ways. When choosing a color scheme for your wall you will need to consider the walls, furniture, carpeting, window treatments or draperies, trim molding, and other design aspects of the room. The colors in a room should complement one another. An art piece with a well-balanced array of color can tie a room together.
If a room is empty, I like to choose the rug and the art first and then the furniture. Some people prefer to do this the opposite way. However, choosing rugs and art first makes sense when you think about it. Think of it in this way. How often does someone walk into a room and say, “That ottoman is majestic! It just takes my breath away!”
However, that can happen with a well-chosen piece of art. Often, art will be the showpiece of a room. So, rather than let the furnishings dictate what your art will look like, allow the art to dictate what kind of furniture you will choose.
#3 Space
This aspect can be tricky. Consider this example. If you have a space above your stove that is one foot and a half tall by four feet wide, it is difficult to find one image to fill this space. However, you could use three images of a similar genre. Aka… a gallery wall. Remember when I told you we would come back to this discussion? Well, here we go.
To fill the gap, I might choose three 8 x 10 sized images of abstract art placed vertically. Another challenging space might be a very large wall or a room with a vaulted ceiling. A grouping of images often does the trick in both situations. My living room has a vaulted ceiling and I’ll just go right ahead and say these areas prove to be tricky more often than not.
For some of my clients, I have used very large prints, 4 x 8 feet tall and larger, to fill these spaces. Keep in mind that large art is proportionately more expensive. Yet, the overall effect of such statement pieces on the design scheme presents a timeless aspect in the room. One last option is to use a single image broken up into several galleries of canvas art spaced apart to cover a large area.
#4 Genre and Personal Style
Perhaps there is an art piece that you are particularly fond of but it clashes with the style and architecture of your home, or maybe it just doesn’t match the color scheme of the room you want to put it in. I have gone to such measures as changing wall colors and room accents to accommodate art. The essential elements of design come together in a cohesive manner when a well-chosen art scheme relays both personal style and enhances the architecture of the house.
No matter which way you decide to go when choosing art, keep this one question in mind. Does the art I chose make me feel fabulous when I walk into the room? If the answer is an excitable yes, then give yourself a strong round of kudos. You just mastered the concept of choosing the wall art that suits your design style.
If you need help with creating an art scheme for your fantasy room then look no further. KaSonndra Leigh Designs has a Finishing Touches service created just for you.
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Today we’re showcasing a group of containers for both indoor and outdoor usage. The rise of container gardening has made it possible to carry the beauty of a garden inside and outside. We chose shapes and sizes and colors to give you an idea of what can be done with the right pieces for your intended outdoor furniture design plan.
The french style urn brings a touch of formality to a space. The two colors we’ve chosen here make it easy to blend the planters in with the surrounding garden. While these have traditionally been used in English style gardens, you can also enjoy these beauties in modern homes as well. The trick is displaying in pairs.
Hanging plants such as the styles we’ve chosen to showcase in this post make a charming addition to a patio or even the right indoor space. I use these everywhere inside my home. However, it’s time for a refresh. The ones I’ve used for the past 15 years need to be updated. Take a look at this collection. I bet you’ll find your dream planter in here as well.
In this last group of cuties, we have smaller containers. I call these accent planters. They work both inside and outside. However, if you choose to use them outside then I’d make sure to put them in a low, safe spot. Squirrels run havoc through my planters at times. On any given day, I might walk outside and find several of my smaller pots turned over. Since these little cuties tend to have tons of personality, they work well as standalone or when placed with a group of medium to large pots.
I hope you enjoyed today’s parade of planters for outdoor furniture and find plenty of goodies in this curated lineup.
**This post contains affiliate links. If you click on something and make a purchase then I will receive a small commission at no additional charge to you. Doing so helps to support the development of this blog**
By now you know that bold design works in almost every design scheme. You’ve probably spent a great deal of time scanning the Instagram and Pinterest feeds of your favorite home decor bloggers just to be left wondering how the heck you can pull off something so darn ballsy, right? Yep! I’ve been there too. Many times in fact and so have several clients.
Most people who follow me on my cyber homes know that I love bold design. I don’t believe in leaving one inch of bare space. Every single element in the room should work together to create a mesmerizing design plan. This is my joy juice. I’ve created bold designs in my home and for my clients. Take a look at this guest bedroom I designed for a client.
If you’re thinking this can’t be done for you then stop, drop what you’re doing, and let’s go through 8 ways to use bold color and patterns in your home to make a strong impact.
Wall Tiles
Oh, the joys of the choices in wall tiles to be used in our homes. These days they come in thousands of sizes, shapes, textures, and patterns. The use of wall tiles creates one of the easiest ways to incorporate design and color in your room. Create a striking border using a set of tiles that share the same size and characteristics yet the color or pattern might be different. Contrast when using wall tiles is key in the overall scheme of things.
Wallpaper
If you’re afraid of going overboard via the use of permanent decorative fixtures such as tiles then why not try a wallpaper instead. They come in all types of flavors and sizes from minimal Scandinavian clean to maximal Bohemian jazz. What makes the use of wallpaper even more feasible in a design scheme is the ability to remove when you grow tired of the pattern. Yes, removable wallpaper is all the rage these days.
Wall Fabric
The main difference between wall fabric and wallpaper is the textures. While the patterns found in most wall fabrics tend to run on the subdued side you can still find some pretty awesome designs on the higher end. Plus, who wouldn’t want to feel the soft fabric on a wall? These work particularly well in rooms such as the home office, bedroom, entertainment, and man caves.
Patterned floor tiles
Inspired by the ancient allure of Mediterranean homes, the use of patterned floor tiles is on the rise. However, this is one element that I make sure I present to my clients via samples and mood boards before sealing the deal. Many things can go wrong in the end design game if this element isn’t chosen with meticulous care. Don’t let that stop you though. Lots of things look fabulous when the right patterned tile adorns a room.
Throw Pillows
Design is like a women’s outfit. And throw pillows are the jewels hiding inside the box. Take the ones you need and use them for a while then change them when you’re ready for the next outfit. No kidding. These little babies (or not so little ones if you’re into European shams) have come a LONG way. Throw pillows are one of my favorite aspects of a design plan because the versatility creates an endless stream of choices.
Ceiling design
Don’t forget about your 5th wall. Yes, the ceiling presents the potential for more design elements. From simple modifications such as paint to more elaborate choices like parametric lighting design and glamorous chandeliers. While the ceiling doesn’t have to be a bold color, you can choose to go dark or install gorgeous lighting such as the one pictured here in this living room rendering. This is where e-design truly does shine. We can cover several variations on one design scheme while saving time, headache, and expense for you in the endgame.
Mirrors
Yes, they come with patterned frames now so you can truly make an impact with bold color while employing the benefits of feng shui (a subject for another post). Remember back in the day when mirrors came in either round, square, or rectangles? And who could ever forget that harsh fake brass finish that mucked up the design most times? Yeah, that would be me.
Fast forward about 30 years (don’t be trying to guess my age now) and we’ve arrived at a mirror design revolution. Sunburst. Scallops. Three-dimensional mirrors. Beach-inspired frames made of genuine seashells. Want a mirror in your design? No probs. The design world has one waiting out there for you. This is why I always recommend a bold mirror in each design scheme. Not only do they create the illusion of a larger space but they also add just the right amount of pizzazz to create a true conversational element of bold design.
Accessories
Perhaps there’s a good reason why I’ve saved the best element of bold decor for last. Trust me. There is one. Because out of all the previous tips we just walked through, this one provides the most flexibility. These days, the use of accessories comes in tons of sizes and flavors. Books, magazines, bookends, statues from the Romanesque era (nope, not a typo). Gone are the days of simply placing a vase of silk roses or fruit baskets on a table. You know have the choice of using bold grasses, decorative antiques, painted Mason jars, and whatever else your imagination conjures up.
As you can see, the use of these 8 elements provides plenty of flexible ways to use bold colors and patterns in your home. While some of these tips can be easily handled by most DIYers there are a couple on here that would benefit from employing a professional designer. If you’d like to get in touch with us and discuss ways we can help you get started on your next project then simply house this contact form and someone will be in touch soon.
If you’re like me then you’ve spent a great deal of time outside this year. Working from home provides opportunities for a mobile office and so much more. We’re all in the grips of the quarantine woes these days. It’s not a very invigorating way to spend the day, right? I bet you’re wracking your brain trying to think of a way to liven things up. Most of my clients are doing so.
No worries! There’s hope on the horizon. What better way to get some of those reports done then by sitting outside and enjoying some sun while crunching numbers?
You’re in luck! I’ve created some fabulous deck decorating and patio designs for you that will be shared over the next few posts. Plus, several large retailers are getting ready to receive their second round of summer inventory. Therefore sales are going on all over the place and we want to help you be in line to grab the first deals.
I’ve put together this shop the look patio design to help you get started on a fabulous new outdoor room… the Haute Bohemian patio. While the stripes found in both the rug and patio umbrella hint at a bit of a modern vibe, it’s the black and white patterns and beautiful trellis combination that bring the old worldliness of this eclectic look together. Most times, Bohemian designs don’t include a large selection of florals. However, we created this look with a gorgeous backyard resting place in mind. So we’ve added some gorgeous faux florals from Terrain in the mix to lend a lively look to the area.
Get ready to wow your friends when they see what you have put together. You’ll also be getting a fabulous deal on some of the pieces suggested in this post as well.
Also, KaSonndra Leigh Designs is now on Like To Know It! Be sure to follow us so that we can bring you some of the best deals each week!
Happy decorating!
**This post contains affiliate links. If you click something and make a purchase then I will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Doing so helps to support the development of this blog. All opinions and recommended products are based on my own personal experience with these products.**
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